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Police Arrest Over 40 Electoral Offenders In Akwa Ibom

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Not less than 40 people have been arrested by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for various offences including electoral offences, abduction, rape, robbery and murder within the past one month.

Naija News Understands that the State Police Commissioner, CP Ibrahim Sani Kaoje who made this known at a press briefing held at the State Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, yesterday, said out of the number, 42 persons were arrested for various electoral offences during the 2019 general election.

The State Police boss, who spoke through the Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Odiko MacDon said the electoral crimes committed ranged from unlawful possession of firearms, electoral materials and political thuggery, among others.

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The commissioner said the cases were under investigation and that the suspects would be charged to Court as soon as the investigation was completed.

The police Commissioner commended sister security agencies in the state for their support to ensure peace before, during and after the elections in the state.

He also explained that the State Police Command on March 1, arrested four persons who stole one white Toyota Hilux at Akwa Savings Estate, Aka Itiam in Uyo.

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Kaoje revealed that the vehicle was taken to a spray painter at Ikot Ekpene in order to change the colour to enable the suspects sell the vehicle.

Speaking to newsmen on the crime, the spray painter, Wisdom Edet (m) said that his friend contacted him and introduced him to the driver of the owner of the Toyota Hilux.

According to him, the driver, Uduak James (m) said that his boss sent him to spray the vehicle to black colour and promised to pay N80,000 for the job.

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“I asked the driver to the owner of the Toyota Hilux, who wants to spray the Hilux and he said it is his boss. After our negotiation, he agreed to pay N80,000 for the job. That same day of negotiation, he paid N30,000 to my account so that I can start the job. ‘’The following day, I called my friend, who introduced me to the driver to bring the vehicle for spraying.

“He brought it and told me to hold on. While still waiting, I decided to rethink the job because the Vehicle is a new one and had no problem. So I started suspecting a foul play.“I called my friend to tell the driver to come and pick the vehicle because I was not comfortable with the job but both of them never came to get the Toyota Hilux from my workshop.”

The CP added that on March 20, seven hoodlums armed with guns and machete invaded the house of one Mr. Chukwuochan Ebube of 42 Believers Street, off Idoro road in Uyo metropolis.

According to him, the suspects during the operation carted away one Plasma TV, one Infinix hot 6 phone, one HP laptop and cash of N15, 000.

On receipt of the information, Itam patrol team responded swiftly and tactically trailed the hoodlums to Itam Motor Park, on sighting the police, the hoodlums escaped, abandoning the stolen items.“Our vigilant operatives arrested one Linus Okon Dickson (m) in connection with the crime and recovered one locally made short gun, one cartridge, one plasma TV and one laptop. he said.